How to Choose Between Wedding Venues

It’s unlikely that you’ve every heard a married couple say, “planning our wedding was one of the most stress-free experiences ever!” There’s no doubt that a wedding is going to be one of the most magical moments of any couple’s life, but there is a lot that goes into the planning. From the moment you’re engaged until the moment you say, “I do”, you’re going to face a lot of big decisions.

How To Evaluate Different Wedding Venues

One of the most important selections you’re going to need to make during the planning process is the wedding venue. There is so much to think about, and it will ultimately have a huge impact on how you plan the rest of your wedding moving forward. From the number of guests you can invite, to your flexibility with decorations, and even what time the ceremony will be, choosing between various wedding venues needs to be done carefully.

Location Location Location

The most obvious thing you need to think about is where you want to have your wedding from a general standpoint. Are you hoping to have a ceremony relatively close to home, or are planning on having a destination wedding? That’s usually one of the biggest factors you need to consider right off the bat.

This is also usually going to start the conversation about how many guests you would ideally like to have. For example, planning a destination wedding typically means that your guest list is going to be smaller, since you can’t expect a large collection of people to take off longer time from work and pay for travel expenses. A more accessible location means a bigger guest list.

Destination Wedding Considerations

If you are thinking about a destination wedding, the locations are going to be much more diverse. For example, having a wedding outside (such as on a beach) certainly has its perks. However, make sure you choose a destination that either gives you view you want, or a higher level of privacy. This is all based on what’s important to you, but every spot on your potential list has its own sets of pros and cons.

Venue Logistics

Once you’re happy with a general destination, you can start evaluating more specifics of the venue. First of all, what is the availability of the venue? If you can get married any time of year, this might not matter as much, but some couples might want to have their ceremony close to or on a specific date. Venue availability matters immensely here. Additionally, the guest capacity cannot’ be overlooked.

Do you and your partner both have extremely large families (direct or extended)? A small venue simply won’t do. Also, don’t forget about the venue layout! This goes a long way in determining the ebb and flow of your ceremony, so make sure you talk to the wedding planners about your bigger vision to see if they can accommodate you.

Choosing The Perfect Wedding Venue

Those are just some of the things that go into choosing between various wedding venues, but with the aid of an experienced wedding planner, the process can be made easier. Always have a clear vision in mind with your partner, and also a strong idea of potential budget. This way, you can reduce the stress that goes into planning a wedding.